Multilingual events, activities and resources

The Festival offers a range of activities and events which can involve any languages that are spoken by children and young people. These enable all pupils to celebrate multiculturalism and multilingualism, to share their own experiences and shine a light on the diverse range of languages and cultures within schools, as well as in the wider world.

Schools can get involved in a range of activities, projects and events from January to March to embrace the languages, cultures and traditions of all pupils and the school community. These activities can be beneficial for Schools of Sanctuary work, as well as making progress with the International School Award.

Sing, sign and play the Festival Song: Love is the Only River 6th January to 31st March

North East schools and groups (ages 7-18) are invited to sign, sign, play, perform and film different language versions of the song: ‘Love is the only river’. Compilation video of performances will be shared.

Together we fly! World Friendship origami project 6th January to 31st March

North East schools, community schools, schools internationally (ages 5-18). Children and young people will create colourful origami butterflies with messages of friendship and be part of our public art exhibition.

Mother Tongue Other Tongue poetic writing project 6th January to 31st March 2025

North East schools (ages 7-18). Children and young people share poems and drawings in their home language or write an original piece of poetry in a language they are learning. Compilation in a digital anthology.

Language Calligrams Celebration and workshop activity 6th January to 31st March

NE schools (7-9 and 9-11 year olds): Create calligrams in any language (other than English) based on words children already know. School certificates for all and ebook with selected entries.

World Recipe Book: exploring food and cultural heritage 6th Jan to 31st March

NE schools, youth and community groups: Share recipes in languages (other than English) and why these are important to different cultures. Digital recipe book will include selected entries.

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Love Your Language Party at West End Library, Newcastle 11.00-12.30 on Monday 16th February

For families with children (5-12, all welcome): Join in multilingual storytime, share stories, play games and enjoy arts and craft activities to celebrate International Mother Language Day.

Love Your Language Day at Newcastle City Library 11.00-12.00 on Saturday 21st February

For families with children (5-12, all welcome): Join in multilingual storytime, share stories, play games and enjoy arts and craft activities to celebrate International Mother Language Day.

Primary school games & stories at the Multilingual Library  Flexible bookings in March

For North East primary schools: Children will enjoy a library tour, games, quizzes and stories using our many books and celebrate diverse cultures at the Multilingual Library.

Languages at Work webinar: Careers and language challenge 9.30-10.30am on 5th March

NE and UK schools (KS3 Y8-Y9): Motivational session with professional linguists. Sharing career insights and running live language challenges in French, German and Spanish.

Languages and careers in football webinar with Pierce Kiembi, Futbol Lingo (KS2-5) 10.30-11.15am on 6th March

NE & UK schools (KS2-5): Join Futbol Lingo’s motivational webinar, using football to inspire a generation of future linguists and open perspectives on the range of careers in football.

Creative multilingualism (KS4) 12.30-3pm on 19th March at Newcastle University

For NE schools Year 10-11 pupils: An interactive workshop for pupils using languages they speak (to whatever level) to gain confidence in expressing multilingualism creatively, with translation, creative writing and language-learning.

Multilingual Poetry Slam (KS3-5) 9.30am-3pm on 27th March at Newcastle Civic Centre

NE and Tees Valley schools (KS3-5): Join Michaël Vidon and a team of Spoken Word Artists to experience a day of multilingual poetry.  Pupils will create and perform group poems in multiple languages.

Where can languages take me? Careers webinar  9.00-9.45am on 26th March

NE & UK schools Year 8-9: Inspire pupils to choose languages at GCSE with professionals sharing their language learning journeys, skills and how they use languages in their work.

Languages and careers in football (KS3-5) 9.30-12, 1-3.30pm on 31st March at Northumbria University

NE schools (KS3-5): Inspiring workshops to encourage pupils to progress with languages. Football themed motivational talk, practical and fun classroom language and footballing activities.

North East language and careers videos and classroom activities Available 6 Jan-31 March

For KS2-5 pupils in North East schools: A series of 2-5 minute videos with North East young professionals (with pupil booklets) to inspire pupils to progress with languages and understand the opportunities available when you speak more than one language.

Ursa Lingua’s Castle Quest Escape Room Adventure Available 6 Jan-31 Mar

For KS2 7-11 years, UK schools: Help polar bear, Ursa Lingua, escape the castle using the power of languages and the magic of teamwork! An exciting language adventure with interactive resources.

Multilingual Me: Exploring and celebrating languages in pupils’ lives (KS2) 6 Jan-31 March

For UK primary schools (KS2): Lesson and materials to help pupils explore languages, celebrate linguistic diversity and learn about multilingualism and migration in the context of their classroom and community.

Multilingual digital stories -5 films made by children Available 6 Jan-31 March

For UK primary, secondary, community schools & groups:  Share short multilingual digital stories created by children and young people aged 7–16 in a range of languages, with English subtitles. Teacher guide provided.

Stories from around the world – Food on Film activities (ages 5-15) Available 6 Jan-31 March

NE and UK schools (ages 5-15): Access 3 short films, revealing different cultures, communities and languages whilst exploring underlying themes that unite us all through the culinary language of food. With teaching resources.

Celebrate Speaking! UK schools 1st-28th February 2025

UK schools: Practice and celebrate a language your students learn or use in their community and take part in the virtual festival of speaking in by sharing performances online.

Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators (deadline 27 Mar)

UK schools register to access creative translation teaching resources in French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. Competition tasks released 2 Feb, deadline 27 Mar.

Multilingual Verses Entries open with various deadlines to 2027

UK schools: Share your children’s multilingual texts, verses and nursery rhymes and encourage family involvement and intergenerational learning. Entries and resources are shared.

ENACT Around the World Club packs

UK and worldwide schools can set up their own Around the World Clubs with free resources, Children and young people can learn about different languages and cultures, while doing hands-on activities.

Around the World Education Packs from British Council

Explore a selection of British Council’s Education Packs with specially designed lessons and resources for schools linked to different countries and cultures across the world.

European Centre for Modern Languages

Classroom resources and publications in multiple languages are available free to support teachers. Available from this Council of Europe supported website.